At the Iowa State Fair, Republican presidential candidate and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis took a swipe at President Joe Biden for his opposition to the protection of parental rights, while simultaneously neglecting his own granddaughter.
DeSantis criticized the Democrats for viewing parents as an obstacle to the "indoctrination" of children within the education system. He also took a shot at Biden for taking "four and a half years to acknowledge" his granddaughter, Navy Joan Roberts.
In March 2022, DeSantis signed Florida's "Parental Rights in Education" bill into law, a move that Biden opposed. The legislation prohibits discussions on gender identity and sexual orientation in kindergarten through third grade or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students, in line with state standards.
Republican Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, in conversation with DeSantis, questioned, "Did you ever think that we'd see the day when we had to actually put, in statute, that parents are the primary decision makers for their children?"
DeSantis responded by pointing out the left's desire to use the school system as a tool for indoctrination rather than education. He said, "What it goes back to, is you have the left that wants to use the school system for indoctrination of the kids rather than education, and they know if the parents are involved, that creates a roadblock for them to be able to indoctrinate."
DeSantis continued, "They want to reduce the role of parents so they can impose their agenda. That's why Biden says things like, 'they're not your kids, they're all of our kids.' No, they're not your kids, Joe, I'm sorry. It also took you four and a half years to acknowledge your own granddaughter in Arkansas."
Biden acknowledged his son Hunter's daughter, born out of wedlock, for the first time in July, after repeatedly avoiding questions about her and discussing his grandchildren without mentioning her by name.
Former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki labeled the Florida bill as "discriminatory" and "a form of bullying" in March 2022. Following DeSantis's signing of the bill, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona stated that the department would be "monitoring this law upon implementation to evaluate whether it violates federal civil rights law."
In February 2022, Biden tweeted about the bill, "I want every member of the LGBTQI+ community especially the kids who will be impacted by this hateful bill to know that you are loved and accepted just as you are. I have your back, and my Administration will continue to fight for the protections and safety you deserve."
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